Ever wonder about the story behind some of those iconic names we see around Nashville? Well, today we’re exploring the history of the Maxwell House Hotel and its unexpected ties to both a famous coffee and a legendary whiskey!

Back in 1869, Colonel John Overton Jr. opened the Maxwell House Hotel in downtown Nashville. Named after his wife, Harriet (Maxwell) Overton, this place was a big deal, a five-story, 240-room marvel with fancy amenities like steam heat and gas lighting. It was the most luxurious spot in town, far ahead of its time.

Here’s where the coffee comes in. In 1892, a wise grocer named Joel Owsley Cheek, along with coffee broker Roger Nolley Smith, whipped up a special coffee blend. They brought it to the Maxwell House Hotel, and the guests went wild for it! The story goes that when the hotel tried to switch back to their old coffee, people complained.

That success was all Joel Cheek needed. He started the “Nashville Coffee and Manufacturing Company” and named his main brand Maxwell House Coffee as a tribute to the hotel that gave it its big break. Even though the original hotel sadly burned down on Christmas night in 1961 (a new one, the Millennium Maxwell House Nashville, opened in 1979 in its memory), the Maxwell House name lives on through that famous coffee.

But, there’s more. The Maxwell House Hotel also had a special connection to another Nashville icon: Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey. The hotel’s famous Oak Bar was the ONLY place you could get Jack Daniel’s.

To celebrate this partnership, Jack Daniel’s created a special decanter called the “Maxwell House Bottle.” Designed by Jack Daniel’s nephew, Lem Motlow, this was a super elegant bottle for its time. They’ve even released limited reproductions over the years, like a half gallon one in 1971 and a 1.5-liter version for international markets in 1995. Because of its limited runs and historical significance, this bottle is a real treasure for Jack Daniel’s collectors.

So, while the “Maxwell House Bottle” doesn’t have anything to do with coffee inside, it’s a treasured reminder of the unique history between this famous hotel and the legendary whiskey. I thought it was cool how one historic hotel could be at the heart of so many famous stories. 

Recently, I redecorated my office at work and started to include some whiskey items. Some old, framed advertisements, some posters, a Jack Daniels barrel, etc.…yes, I have a whiskey barrel in my office!  But when I was on one of my Lynchburg trips, I saw some old Jack bottles that would add to my office décor.  The first one I purchased was the Maxwell House bottle. There’s a lot of history in that bottle and it certainly looks fantastic on a shelf.  And while I don’t drink coffee, I have been known to knock back a whiskey or two…